Education : Lakeview Honors Alumna Aboard Space Shuttle Flight

Santa Fe Springs and the Little Lake City School District celebrated the presence of local native Tamara Jernigan aboard the space shuttle Columbia by replaying the shuttle launch for hundreds of students and then lining them up in a schoolyard to create a larger-than-life human message.

About 500 students of Lakeview Elementary School gathered in the school auditorium Wednesday to watch a videotape of the 6:24 a.m. launch. Santa Fe Springs Mayor Betty Wilson was on hand to declare Tammy Jernigan Day, and students gathered to form a red, white and blue message proclaiming “Hi Tammy.” A helicopter flew overhead to capture the event on film, in case Jernigan missed the greeting from Earth.

Jernigan graduated from Lakeview in 1970. She also attended Lake Center Junior High School and Santa Fe High School, from which she graduated in 1977.

Jernigan and fellow crew members will conduct experiments on rats, jellyfish and a medical mannequin to develop knowledge about keeping astronauts fit and healthy during long periods in space. The research will help prepare astronauts for life aboard a space station or for extended journeys to distant planets.